HC Deb 14 March 1911 vol 22 cc2200-3W
Mr. CLOUGH

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the number of Chambers, the number of members of each Chamber, the duration, and whether that duration is fixed, in the case of each of the following Parliaments:—Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and United States of America?

Sir E. GREY

The information desired by the hon. Member will be found in the current issue of the "Statesman's Year-Rook," from which, for the convenience of the hon. Member, the following extracts have been made:—

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.—Representative Assembly of the Empire, known as the Delegations, consisting of two bodies. Each of the two Chambers consists of sixty members, of whom twenty are selected from each of the Austrian and Hungarian Upper Houses and forty from the Lower House of each country. The members are elected for one year.

AUSTRIA.—Reichsrath, consisting of an Upper and a Lower House. The Upper House is composed of about 267 members (the number varies according to the number of life members): (1) Princes of the Imperial Family who are of age, (2) Hereditary Members, (3) ten Archbishops and seven Bishops, (4) Life Members nominated by the Emperor (not less than 150 or more than 170). The Lower House is composed of 516 Members. The duration of its term is six years.

HUNGARY.—Upper and Lower Houses. The Upper House is composed of (1) Archdukes, (2) Hereditary Peers (249), (3) Official, Ecclesiastical, and nominated Life Members (67), (4), 3 delegates of Croatia-Slavonia. The Lower House is composed of 453 Members, elected for five years.

BELGIUM.—Senate and Chamber of Representatives. The Senate is composed of 110 Members, elected for eight years, but one-half of them are subject to re-election every four years. The Chamber of Representatives is composed of about 166 Members (the number is proportioned to the population, not exceeding one for every 40,000 inhabitants), elected for four years, but one-half of them retire every two years.

COSTA RICA.—Legislative power is vested in a single Chamber. The Members of the Chamber of Representatives are elected for a term of four years, one-half retiring every two years. One Member is elected to represent every 8,000 inhabitants. There were 32 Deputies in 1902.

DENMARK.—Rigsdag, consisting of two Chambers:—Landsting (Upper House) and Folketing (Lower House). The Landsting is composed of sixty-six Members, twelve nominated by the King for life and fifty-four elected for eight years. Half of the elected Members retire in rotation every four years. The Folketing is composed of 114 Members (one for every 16,000 inhabitants), elected every three years.

FRANCE.—National Assembly, consisting of Senate and Chamber of Deputies. The Senate is composed of 300 Members, elected for nine years, one-third of them retiring every three years. The Chamber of Deputies is composed of 584 Members, elected for four years.

GERMANY.—The Bundesrat (representing the individual States of Germany) and the Reichstag (representing the German nation). The Bundesrat is composed of fifty-eight Members appointed for each session. The Reichstag is composed of 397 Members elected for five years.

GREECE.—Legislative power is vested in a Single Chamber. The Legislative Assembly is composed of 235 Members (in the proportion of one for every 12,000 inhabitants), elected for the terms of four years.

ITALY.—Senate and Chamber of Deputies. The Senate is composed of Princes of the Royal Family over twenty-one years of age, and an unlimited number of Members nominated by the King for life. In November, 1909, there were 328 Senators, exclusive of five Members of the Royal Family. The Chamber of Deputies is composed of 508 Members. The duration of the Parliament is five years.

JAPAN.—The Imperial Diet, consisting of a House of Peers and a House of Representatives. The House of Peers is composed of 364 Members (December, 1910). The term of membership is seven years in the case of Peers elected by members of their respective orders, and in that of persons elected in each Fu and Ken. Princes and Marquisses, and persons nominated by the Emperor are life Members. The House of Representatives is composed of 379 Members, elected for four years.

NETHERLANDS.—The States General, consisting of two Chambers. The Upper Chamber is composed of fifty Members, elected for nine years, one third of them retiring by rotation every three years. The Second or Lower Chamber is composed of 100 Members elected for four years.

NORWAY.—The Storting, consisting of two Chambers, Lagting, and Odelsting.

The Storting is composed of 123 Members elected triennially. The Members elect one-fourth of their number to form the Lagting, and the remaining three-fourths constitute the Odelsting.

SPAIN.—Cortes, consisting of Senate and Chamber of Deputies. The Senate is composed of 180 elected Senators, 100 Life Senators, nominated by the Crown; and certain hereditary, official, and ecclesiastical Members (Senators in their own right). Non-elected Senators cannot exceed in number the 180 elected Senators. In the event of the King dissolving only the Chamber of Deputies, the elected portion of the Senate is automatically renewable as to half its Members every five years. The Chamber of Deputies is composed of 406 Members, elected for five years.

SWEDEN.—Diet, consisting of Upper and Lower Chambers. The Upper Chamber is composed of 150 Members, elected individually for nine years. Members are replaced as vacancies occur through resignation, death, or extinction of their mandate. The Chamber has therefore in practice a permanent character. The Lower Chamber is composed of 230 Members, elected for a legislative period of three years.

SWITZERLAND.—Federal Assembly, consisting of State Council and National Council. The State Council is composed of forty-four Members, elected by the Cantons. The National Council is elected directly by the people in the proportion of one Deputy for every 20,000 electors. It consists of 167 Members. A general election takes place every three years.

TURKEY.—Senate and Chamber of Deputies. The Senate or Upper House is composed of Senators nominated for life by the Sultan, and their number must not exceed one-third of the number of Deputies in the Lower House. The Chamber of Deputies is composed of Members elected in proportion to the population. General elections are to be held every four years.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.—Congress, consisting of Senate and House of Representatives. The Senate is composed of ninety-two Members, two being elected by each State Legislature. Senators hold office for six years. The Senate is a permanent body, but one-third of its membership is renewed every two years. The House of Representatives is composed of 391 Members, elected every two years.

With regard to Portugal, the desired information is not at present available.